Statement Win At #6 Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The University of Notre Dame hockey program topped sixth-ranked Penn State, 2-1, to open their weekend series with the Nittany Lions on rival ice Friday.

The Irish fired the first shot on goal of the contest, with Ryder Rolston sending a puck at the PSU goal from the point. The Nittany Lions fired the next eight shots off to take the 8-1 edge but the score remained scoreless at the media timeout of the first.

Notre Dame was whistled for the lone penalty in the opening period, successfully killing off the slashing call at 16:24 to keep the score knotted at 0-0.

After registering 18 saves in the first period, the Nittany Lions snuck a rebound past an outstretch Ryan Bischel in the Irish net to break the stalemate with 60 seconds left in the frame. The Irish tried to answer with a late rush up ice but could not find the equalizer in the first period and skated to the locker room down a goal.

The Irish snapped their scoring drought at 5:42 of the second period when Justin Janicke and Chayse Primeau combined for a back door goal to even the score. Landon Slaggert also recorded an assist on the play as the top line got ND on the board.

J. Janicke blocked a shot in the defensive zone and broke through a pair of Nittany Lions for the breakaway chance halfway through the period but his chance ricocheted off the pads of Liam Souliere in the PSU crease to keep it a 1-1 game.

Some extracurriculars outside the Irish net paused play and sent the Irish to their first powerplay opportunity of the night but they were unable to capitalize on the man-advantage and both sides continued to look for the go ahead goal.

Notre Dame thought they had the elusive second goal with 2.1 seconds remaining in the middle frame but the officials wave it off as the puck never fully crossed the line and the score remained 1-1 after 40 minutes of action.

The Nittany Lions killed off the remainder of their penalty from the second period before taking another infraction at 1:31 of the final period. The Irish wasted no time capitalizing on the man-advantage as Ryder Rolston fired a shot off his backhand into the top left corner for the 2-1 score.

Both teams were whistled for penalties partway through the period but neither side could light the lamp and the Irish held the 2-1 lead to the next whistle.

At 9:38 of the third, the Irish were whistled for yet another penalty and were sent back to the kill for two minutes. The Irish successfully killed off the disadvantage, registering two shorthanded chances on the kill as well as they clung to the one-goal lead halfway through the period.

The Nittany Lions fired a plethora of shots at Bischel in the waning minutes of regulation but the senior netminder stood tall between the pipes to improve to 11-11-2 on the season.

GOALS

  • Chayse Primeau knotted it up at 5:42 of the second period with a tap in tally. Landon Slaggert fed the puck up to Justin Janicke along the near boards who circled the net to draw the Nittany Lion netminder off and open up the backdoor shot for Primeau.
  • Ryder Rolston gathered J. Janicke’s rebound inside the near circle and lifted the puck behind him, top shelf, for the powerplay tally at 2:12 of the third period. Chase Blackmun also recorded an assist on the play.

KEY STATS

  • Ryan Bischel stopped a career-best 52 shots in the 2-1 victory, including turning aside 33 shots over the final 40 minutes of regulation to keep the Irish on top.
  • In addition to the 53 shots allowed, the Irish skaters jumped in front of a season-high 23 shots to keep pucks off net and away from their netminder. Drew Bavaro’s four blocked shots was a team-best.
  • Ryder Rolston, who net the eventual game-winner early in the third, led the team with five shots on goal at the other end of the ice.
  • Notre Dame posted a perfect penalty kill Friday night, stifling all Nittany Lions’ chances on their three powerplay opportunities.
  • On the man-advantage, the Irish went one-for-four, while firing seven pucks on net up a man.

UP NEXT
The Irish and Nittany Lions close out the regular season series Saturday night, looking for the weekend sweep. Notre Dame then returns home to host conference foe Wisconsin Jan. 27-28 inside Compton Family Ice Arena.

The two teams previously split the series in Wisconsin, with the Irish taking game two, 6-4. Fans are encouraged to stick around following Saturday’s contest for a post-game autograph session with the Irish.